Nando’s Spicy Rice
If you love rice, then our slimming-friendly Nando’s Spicy Rice will be a big hit whether you’re counting calories or following a diet plan like Weight Watchers.
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NutritionPer Serving
- Calories397
- Carbs82g
- Protein9.7g
- Fat2.4g
- Saturates0.5g
- Sugars4g
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For the full list of ingredients and comprehensive instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post. Before you scroll, there’s important stuff to know in the blurb!
This recipe tastes just like the rice you get from Nando’s. So much so, it’s uncanny! However, why limit this delicious, savoury rice to just alongside peri-peri chicken? It’s substantial enough to eat on its own, but also works as a delicious side to so many mains, and will very soon become a family favourite!
It’s SO easy to bring authentic Nando’s Spicy Rice flavours to your kitchen in only half an hour, with fragrant spices and crunchy peppers. In fact, you’ll wonder how you ever managed with plain boiled rice before!
What diets is this Nando’s Spicy Rice suitable for?
This recipe is suitable if you’re gluten free as long as you swap out the following ingredients for gluten free versions;
- Stock cubes
You could also enjoy this Nando’s Spicy Rice if you’re dairy free.
Please make sure to double or triple check all of your ingredients if you’re cooking for people with allergies.
Do you need any special ingredients to make Nando’s Spicy Rice?
You really don’t need anything special to make this recipe – it’s a great way to use up some vegetables and makes a really quick dinner. Everything you need should already be in the cupboard!
Hints & Tips
Below we added some of our communities most common hints and tips. We hope you find them useful.
Whatever you serve this rice with, even if you eat it as is, a little peri-peri sauce works a treat
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‘This spicy rice definitely gives Nando's a run for its money!’
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If you don’t already have a large frying pan then it’s worth investing in one – you can get one from most supermarkets, or from Amazon.
For an authentic Nando’s experience, serve the Spicy Rice in individualramekins like these ones!
How many Calories are in this Nando’s Spicy Rice?
There are 397 calories in each portion of our Slimming friendly Nando’s Spicy Rice. This means it falls into our Everyday Light recipe category.
This Nando’s Spicy Rice is perfect if you’re following a calorie controlled diet, and fits well with any one of the major diet plans such as Weight Watchers.
As a guide, an average man needs around 2,500kcal (10,500kJ) a day to maintain a healthy body weight. For an average woman, that figure is around 2,000kcal (8,400kJ) a day. Obviously, if your goal is to lose weight then you might want to adjust these slightly! You can read more about these recommendations on the NHS website.
Step 1
Spray a large frying pan with low calorie cooking spray.
Step 2
Add the chopped onion, peppers, cumin, chilli powder, turmeric and paprika. Cook until they start to brown slightly.
Step 3
While waiting for them to brown, dissolve the chicken stock cube in the boiling water.
Step 4
Add the rice to the onions and peppers and stir to mix well.
Step 5
Pour in the hot stock, then add the chicken stock pot and stir.
Step 6
Bring to the boil, then cover with a lid and cook according to the packet instructions (usually 10 – 12 minutes).
Step 7
Stir during cooking to stop it sticking to the pan.
Step 8
Stir in the peas 4-5 minutes before the end of cooking and replace the lid.
Step 9
When all the water has been absorbed and the rice is cooked, stir and serve!
What should you should serve with Nando’s Spicy Rice?
Any of the following go really well with this rice. It’s one of those dishes that goes with pretty much anything, and is also a great BBQ accompaniment!
Whatever accompaniment you choose, don’t forget to account for the extra calories and/or other nutritional values.
Can you cook Nando’s Spicy Rice another way?
This recipe is quick and easy using the method below – it’s not suitable for other methods of cooking.
How do you know when Nando’s Spicy Rice is cooked?
This recipe is ready when the rice is tender, and the vegetables have softened.
This recipe should take about 25 minutes to make.
Standard advice here in the UK is to cook food until it has reached 70°C and stayed at that temperature for 2 minutes. This is to keep your family safe.
How long can you keep Nando’s Spicy Rice in the fridge?
Freezing and reheating rice is often a concern for a lot of people, and it’s one of the things we get asked about quite frequently.
As we all know you can get food poisoning from eating reheated rice, but, it’s not actually the reheating that can cause issues, it is, in fact, the way that the rice has been stored beforehand where the problem begins.
Without getting too technical uncooked rice can contain spores that are resistant to heat and can survive the cooking process. If cooked rice is left standing at room temperature these spores can grow into bacteria. At this point, the bacteria will be destroyed by reheating the rice thoroughly.
If you intend keeping any leftover rice dishes then you should do the following:
Cool the rice as quickly as possible (ideally within one hour) then fridge or freeze it immediately. You can split larger portions up into smaller batches to cool quicker.
Freeze as soon as the rice is cold.
Reheat and use any leftover rice (stored in the fridge) within one day.
When you reheat any rice, always check it is steaming hot all the way through.
Don’t reheat cooked rice more than once.
For more information about reheating rice please take a look at the NHS website.
Can I freeze Nando’s Spicy Rice?
Yes you can! This recipe can be frozen, but please remember to do the following;
- Freeze it as soon as it is cold enough.
- Use a container or bag that is suitable for freezing.
Don’t forget to add a label with what it is, and on what date you put it in the freezer! There is more information above with regards to freezing rice.
How do I reheat Nando’s Spicy Rice?
From chilled: Place in a microwave proof container with loosely fitting lid and heat for 4-7 minutes until piping hot.
From frozen: Allow to defrost, and heat covered in the microwave for 3-5 minutes then stir. Cook for a further 3-5 minutes until piping hot.
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Nando’s Spicy Rice
If you love rice, then our slimming-friendly Nando’s Spicy Rice will be a big hit whether you’re counting calories or following a diet plan like Weight Watchers.
-
Prep Time
5 MINS
-
Cook Time
25 MINS
- KCals 397
- Carbs 82G
Instructions
- Spray a large frying pan with low calorie cooking spray
- Add the chopped onion, peppers, cumin, chilli powder, turmeric and paprika. Cook until they start to brown slightly
- While waiting for them to brown, dissolve the chicken stock cube in the boiling water
- Add the rice to the onions and peppers and stir to mix well
- Pour in the hot stock, then add the chicken stock pot and stir
- Bring to the boil, then cover with a lid and cook according to the packet instructions (usually 10 - 12 minutes)
- Stir during cooking to stop it sticking to the pan
- Stir in the peas 4-5 minutes before the end of cooking and replace the lid
- When all the water has been absorbed and the rice is cooked, stir and serve!
Looking for Slimming World Syns or Weight Watchers (WW) Points?
With ever-changing plans and point calculations, we have made the decision to remove WW Points from the website - referring to your individual plan or advice from your consultant is always going to give the most accurate results.
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We agreed with Slimming World to remove their trademarked terms from our website
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64 comments
See what others have to say
Pam HWednesday 22nd March 2023
Made this for the first time tonight. I probably went a bit light on the seasoning so would maybe increase the spices a touch next time but this time round it worked well as I’d made some extra spicy chicken skewers to go with. So sorry I forgot to take a pic, we got straight into it and polished the lot off. Will definitely make again.
SharonThursday 13th July 2023
Hi Pam, thanks for your comment about our Nando’s Spicy Rice recipe, we’re so glad you enjoyed it!
KerryTuesday 6th July 2021
Can this be done in a rice cooker?
LisaThursday 8th July 2021
Hi Kerry,
We’ve never tried cooking this in a rice cooker, but I can’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work. Have a look at the instruction manual as timings may be different. Hope you enjoy the recipe!
KerryWednesday 21st July 2021
Tried it in the rice cooker, came out lovely 😋
HKSueyTuesday 10th August 2021
I’ve used a rice cooker. I fry everything in a separate pan, add the water and transfer to rice cooker. Perfect
HollyMonday 16th August 2021
Hey, thanks so much for your rice cooker tips and advice!
EveSunday 12th July 2020
I like this recipe and have adapted it several times since to fit as much veg in as possible as it’s a good way to use up random veg. Celery and carrot both work well added to the original recipe
SharonMonday 13th July 2020
Hi Eve, we’re so pleased to hear you like this recipe, and for sharing your idea about using up vegetables you have leftover. Thanks for getting in touch.
EmmaMonday 13th April 2020
This is brilliant, we made this on Friday with the Nandos medium cook in bag and it was honestly better than any nandos I’ve ever had! Will definitely be making it again! We left out the peas (I’m not a fan of them) and used 2 stock cubes as couldn’t get the liquid stock.
Steve CowderoyFriday 8th May 2020
Hi Emma, thanks for letting us know. So happy you enjoyed this recipe.
RositaTuesday 13th August 2019
What is Chicken stock pot?
Emma TMonday 23rd September 2019
Hi Rosita,
It’s a type of concentrated stock, you can get them in most supermarkets. Alternatively, you could add an extra stock cube ????
Lorna brownSaturday 11th May 2019
Thank you, this is delicious with your chicken kebabs and pittas!!
RichWednesday 3rd April 2019
Loved this recipe, I cooked it for myself last night and it tasted great. The only thing I’d change (and it’s only because I like spicy stuff) is I’d up the chilli, I used 1/2tsp and even then it wasn’t quite hot enough for me. I’d probably use 1tsp next time to give it a proper kick!
Emma TSunday 7th April 2019
Hi Rich,
Gotta love a bit of spice! So glad you enjoyed it!
CarlaMonday 4th March 2019
This looks perfect but if I don’t add the chilli powder will it change the intended flavour ? I’ve never used chilli powder before so don’t know if it has a flavour etc. I’m not good with heat..
EileenSunday 24th February 2019
Have made lamb rogan josh lovely, now making nandos rice have people coming for supper but I am having to add lots more water help.
MichelleWednesday 20th June 2018
This is an amazing recipe. Served with the jerk chicken and a corn on the cob and coleslaw. Thankyou
ToriSunday 17th June 2018
Delicious, but mine ended up more of a risotto consistency… not sure what I did wrong?
TeenaMonday 4th June 2018
Can you make this with brown rice ?
Kerri FrancisSunday 20th May 2018
Thank you for this recipe (and all your others). At a family bbq I had 5 different people ask for the recipe. I also love that you can amend your recipes for different numbers of people and you do the maths for me. Thank you for all your hard work!!
LisaFriday 11th May 2018
Where is the amount of ingreadents that is needed i cant see it thanks.
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